Bulldogs Open Season with a Split Against State Powerhouses
- RoMoAthletics
- Mar 24
- 7 min read
March 24, 2026
For 9 years the Bulldogs have opened the season by heading up highway 63 to participate in the Rock Bridge season kick-off where they start off the season against top level teams. It was the first time since 2018 that the Bulldogs drove home after a victory.
Coach Ken Hohe was excited for the season but it got a little better after getting a victory. “For us we felt we competed in both games. We love starting the year with two great programs in Rock Bridge and Republic. Coach Bazat and Coach Plotner always have their teams ready to compete. Coming out of there with a win was important for us, hopefully gives us a little momentum into the upcoming week.”
Rolla Couldn’t Find the Gaps Against Rock Bridge
It was the season opener for the Rolla Bulldogs against aRock Bridge Bruins team fresh off an 8-7 win at DeSmet on Thursday. Rock Bridge went 30-9 last season before losing to the eventual State Champions Blue Springs South.
The Bulldog offense never got on track against the Bruins as they were no-hit in a 5-0 loss. Asher Schulze was on the mound for the Bruins and struck out four and walked three for the game while allowing no hits.
The Bulldogs were able to put the ball into play but the Bruin fielders seemed to be plugging every gap. The Bulldogs were hitting line drives but they went right to the defender. Diving plays by infielders robbed the Bulldogs of potential baserunners and the large field keeping a 380+ foot bomb in the park kept the Bulldogs from getting on the scoreboard.
Jenson Thomas, the 6’2” Sr right-hander, took the mound for the Bulldogs. The Angelo State signee suffered the loss, going four innings, giving up five runs on six hits, striking out five and walking five.
Rock Bridge opened the scoring in the bottom of the first to take the early lead, 1-0. It was a 4 run 3rd inning that locked up the game for the Bruins.
Chase Hudson, a 5’10” Jr right-hander and Connor Hirtz, a 5’10” So right-hander, came on in relief to each toss 1 inning. Hudson faced batters on 20 pitches while Hirtz faced 5 batters on 23 pitches.
Bulldogs Take Down Republic 4 to 3
The bats came alive in the 2nd game of the day against the Republic Tigers, but it was an error that put Rolla on the board in the bottom of the second. Sr Ruger Covey led off the 2nd with a walk and then the Missouri State - West Plains signee let his base running skills do the rest.
Covey was able to steal 2nd on the first pitch. Two batters later, Covey was able to advance to 3rd on a wild pitch and then come home on an error to put the Bulldogs on top, 1-0.
The Bulldogs add two more runs in the 3rd. Thomas, facing a 2-2 count with 1 out, hits a line drive single to center field. The next batter, 5’10” Jr catcher Chase Williams singles to left advancing the speedy Thomas to 3rd.
Logan Jenkins, a 5’10” Sr first baseman, comes to the plate and facing an 0-2 count, hits a ground-out RBI to first bringing home Thomas and advancing Williams to 2nd.
The recent Illinois College signee, 5’11” Sr third baseman Riker Snodgrass, finds the gap on the first pitch and doubles to center bringing home Williams.
The Bulldogs would hold off the Tiger comeback
It was 6’2” Sr center fielder and University of Nebraska signee Colton Petersmith on the bump for the Bulldogs. The left-handed Petersmith earned the win giving up four hits and two runs over four and two-thirds innings, while striking out six and walking five.
Petersmith Fooled hitters, collecting four of six strikeouts looking. Jenkins came on in relief and pitched 2 and one-thirds innings giving up three hits and a run while striking out five and not giving up any walk.
Williams and Petersmith each had two hits while Snodgrass and Jenkins each had an RBI. The Bulldogs did strand 6 runners which is an area they will be looking to improve throughout the season.
Wrap Up
Starting off the season 1-1 is a great start even though they were no-hit in the opening game. The ability to make contact with the ball in the opening game, carried over into the win versus republic.
Coach Hohe felt the pitching is heading in the right direction and the ability to compete on the mound will payoff through the test of the season.
“Jenson & CP (Petersmith) did not have their best stuff, but they competed. Kept battling through some tight zones and didn’t let errors behind them bother them. I thought they did an excellent job of keeping us in the games.”
When asked about the performance of his bullpen over the two games, Hohe was excited to see their grit.
“I’m really proud of our bullpen work. Connor Hirtz and Chase Hudson threw up a couple 0’s against Rock Bridge and Logan Jenkins was awesome against Republic getting the save.”
Next Up
Tuesday March 24th at Owensville (1-2) 4:30 pm
Wednesday at Home versus Helias Catholic (1-1) 4:30 pm
Bank Classic Washington/Union Tournament - Friday and Saturday
Friday the 27th vs Union (2-2) 11:30 am
Friday the 27th vs Lafayette (St. Joseph) (1-1) 2:00 pm
Saturday the 29th TBD at Union, MO
The Scorebook: Rolla Bulldogs 0, Rock Bridge Bruins 5
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
Rolla (1-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rock Bridge (3-0) | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 6 | 2 |
Rolla Bulldogs
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
C. Petersmith | CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
L. Richter | SS,2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
J. Thomas | P,SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
C. Williams | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
L. Jenkins | 1B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
R. Snodgrass | 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
R. Covey | LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
B. Sbabo | 2B,RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
C. Hudson | RF,P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
TEAM | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
SB: Connor Hirtz
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
J. Thomas | 4.0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
C. Hirtz | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
C. Hudson | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
TEAM | 6.0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
WP: Jenson Thomas
Pitches-Strikes: Jenson Thomas 87-44, Chase Hudson 20-10, Connor Hirtz 23-9
Batters Faced: Jenson Thomas 22, Chase Hudson 4, Connor Hirtz 5
Rock Bridge Bruins
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
K. Castaner | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
J. Marsh | RF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
C. Norden | 2B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A. Schulze | P | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
F. Cunningham | C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
A. Best | LF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
C. Bass | CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
B. Stover | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
B. Crites | 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
TEAM | 23 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
2B: Alec Best
3B: Finn Cunningham
TB: Finn Cunningham 3, Alec Best 2, Asher Schulze 2, Brayden Stover 1, Cole Norden 1
SB: Carson Bass 2, Josh Marsh
E: Finn Cunningham 2
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
A. Schulze | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
R. McClain | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
TEAM | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Pitches-Strikes: Asher Schulze 65-42, Ryan McClain 31-16
Batters Faced: Asher Schulze 18, Ryan McClain 8
The Scorebook: Rolla Bulldogs 4, Republic Tigers 3
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
Republic (1-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
Rolla (1-1) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Rolla Bulldogs
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
C. Petersmith | P | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
L. Richter | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
J. Thomas | SS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
C. Williams | DH | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
L. Jenkins | 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
R. Snodgrass | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
R. Covey | CF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
B. Sbabo | LF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
C. Hudson | RF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– Z. McWilliams | RF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
TEAM | 21 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
2B: Riker Snodgrass
TB: Chase Williams 2, Colton Petersmith 2, Riker Snodgrass 2, Jenson Thomas 1
HBP: Blaine Sbabo 2
SB: Blaine Sbabo, Colton Petersmith, Ruger Covey
E: Riker Snodgrass
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
C. Petersmith | 4.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
L. Jenkins | 2.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
TEAM | 7.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
Pitches-Strikes: Logan Jenkins 41-28, Colton Petersmith 85-41
Batters Faced: Logan Jenkins 10, Colton Petersmith 22
Republic Tigers
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
N. Lashley | C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
C. Thomas | SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
B. Overstreet | P | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
P. McCracken | DH | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
M. West | 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
L. Perkins | RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
F. Moore | LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
C. Connell | CF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
G. Hicks | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
TEAM | 27 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
2B: Nolan Lashley
3B: Landon Perkins
TB: Landon Perkins 3, Cooper Thomas 2, Nolan Lashley 2, Brennan Overstreet 1, Greg Hicks 1, Preston McCracken 1
SB: Carter Coggin
CS: Carter Coggin
E: Greg Hicks
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
B. Overstreet | 5.0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
C. Thomas | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
TEAM | 6.0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
WP: Brennan Overstreet
HBP: Brennan Overstreet, Cooper Thomas
Pitches-Strikes: Brennan Overstreet 77-47, Cooper Thomas 16-5
Batters Faced: Brennan Overstreet 25, Cooper Thomas 3
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